LONDON – Kenya’s David Rudisha’s hopes of adding world 800 metres gold to the Olympic title he won in a world record time at the same track in the 2012 London Olympics have been dashed because of injury.
The 28-year-old – who ran an astonishing time of 1min 40.91sec (1:40.91) to take gold in 2012 – took to Twitter to reveal he could not take his place in the London Stadium for the championships.
“It’s sad and disappointing to announce my no show in the forthcoming #london2017 WC due to a quad muscle strain,” tweeted Rudisha, who was the defending champion.
The absence of the two-time Olympic champion – whose run in 2012 was acclaimed as the standout performance of the Games by London 2012 chairman and athletics great Sebastian Coe – could pave the way for compatriot Emmanuel Korir or the man who chased him home in London in 2012, Nijel Amos of Botswana.
The championships get under way on Friday.
Its sad and disappointing to announce my no show in the forthcoming #london2017 WC due to a quad muscle strain. pic.twitter.com/bdM0Zi4QCd
— David Rudisha MBS (@rudishadavid) July 31, 2017